Article supporting device

ABSTRACT

An article supporting device useable for a coatrack or the like comprising a square pillar standing on a base plate, a pair of identically shaped metal members to be fixed to the square pillar in a symmetrical manner extending in either of four directions of the square pillar at a desired height, each of the metal members having a portion engaging with the pillar, flange-like bent portions at both sides of the engaging portion, and a protecting bent portion adjacent to one of the flange-like bent portions, and said portion engaging with the pillar having outward projections, at least one fixing member having holes to be engaged with the outward projections so that the fixing member is fixed to the outer surface of the engaging portion of the metal member, and a supporting member hinged to the fixing member so that the supporting member can be sustained to a horizontally extending position or to a vertically set back position.

United States Patent [191 Saiki ARTICLE SUPPORTING DEVICE [76] Inventor:Tomihei Saiki, No. 116, 3-chome,

Yagumo-naka-machi, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka, Japan 22 Filed: Sept. 12, 1972211 App]. No.: 288,358

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 14, 1972 Japan 47-94909Sept. 23, 1971 Japan..... 46-87134 Oct. 15, 1971 Japan 46-95595 [52] US.Cl 211/110, 211/170, 248/221, 248/226 R [51] Int. Cl. A47f 5/08, A47f5/12 [58] Field of Search 211/170, 171, 111, 110,

[ 1 June 18, 1974 2,964,200 12/1960 King 211/112 X 3,034,610 5/1962Lynch 287/l89.36 C

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 256,968 3/1949 Switzerland 211/99Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfe,Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An article supporting device useable for a coatrack orthe like comprising a square pillar standing on a base plate, a pair ofidentically shaped metal members to be fixed to the square pillar in asymmetrical manner extending in either of four directions of the squarepillar at a desired height, each of the metal members having a portionengaging with the pillar, flange-like bent portions at both sides of theengaging portion, and a protecting bent portion adjacent to one of theflange-like bent portions, and said portion engaging with the pillarhaving outward projections, at least one fixing member having holes tobe engaged with the outward projections so that the fixing member isfixed to the outer surface of the engaging portion of the metal member,and a supporting member hinged to the fixing member so that thesupporting member can be sustained to a horizontally extending positionor to a vertically set back position.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENYEMMBW $817394 mam er. a

ARTICLE SUPPORTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to article supporting devices, and more particularly to thoseadapted to be used in a room for supporting coat hangers, books, or thelike.

Devices heretofore employed in a room for support ing coat hangers havehad a drawback of causing hindrance in a room whenthe devices are notused, and when these are used, holding of the hangers is notsufficiently firm, whereby the hangers are easily dropped out of thesupporting devices even by a slight touch. Furthermore, the devices forsupporting books or the like have had fixed shapes and sizes and couldnot be changed in accordance with the requirment in the room. Inaddition, all of these supporting devices were not estheticallypleasant.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an articlesupporting device whereby all of the above described drawbacks of theconventional devices can be substantially eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an articlesupporting device the size, shape, and height of which can be adjustedas desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an articlesupporting device which can be brought into the working state by asimple depression, and can be set back to its unused state in one actionso that the device does not make any nuisance in the room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the presentinvention can be achieved by an article supporting device according tothe present invention which comprises a square pillar standing up from abase plate, a pair of identically shaped metal members to be fixed tosaid square pillar in a symmetrical manner-extending in either of fourdirections of the square pillar at a desired height, each of the metalmembers having a portion engaging with the surface of the pillar,flange-like bent portions at both sides of the pillar-engaging portion,and a protecting bent portion contiguous to one of the flange-like bentportions, said pillar-engaging portion of the metal member furtherhaving outward projections, at least one fixing member having holes tobe engaged with the outward projections of said pillar-engaging portionof the metal member so that the fixing member is thereby fixed to theouter surface of the pillar-engaging portion of the metal member, and asupporting member hinged to the fixing member so that the supportingmember further provided with either hanger supporting members or booksupporting members can be sustained to a horizontally extended positionor to a vertically set back position.

The nature, principle, and the utility of the present invention will beclearly understood from the following detailed description of theinvention with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article supporting device accordingto the present invention in a state for supporting coat hangers;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another form of the supporting devicefor supporting books or the like, which is in the unused state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the article supporting device shown inFIG. 2, which is partly disassembled;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a pair of substantially identical metalmembers fixed on the surfaces of a square pillar;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pair of metal members withassembling screws; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a hanger supporting member hinged to a fixingmember of the article supporting device of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there isindicated a square pillar l on which are fixed in an adjustable manner apair of metal members 2, 2 of channel shape which together form asleeve. Each of the metal members 2, 2 includes a portion 3 to beengaged with a surface of the square pillar l, flange-like bent portions4 and 5 provided at both sides of the pillar-engaging portion 3, and aprotective bent portion 6 formed contiguously to the flange-like bentportion 5. On the surface of the portion 3, outwardly offset tabprojections 7 and 7 are further provided, and the pair of the metalmembers 2, 2 are fixed on the surfaces of the square pillar l in asymmetrical manner by means of screws 8, 8.

Since the metal members 2, 2 are fixed in a symmetrical manner to thesquare pillar I, the mounting surfaces of the pillar 1 can be selectedto any of the four surfaces, and by releasing the fixing screws 8, 8,the metal members 2, 2 can be displaced to any height on the pillar 1.It should be noted that the protecting bent portion 6 of the metalmember 2 is provided for protecting the screws 8, 8 as will be apparentfrom FIG. 4, and for this reason, the width of the bent portion 6 isdetermined greater than the length of the screws 8, 8. Furthermore,screw threads are cut in the internal surfaces of holes 9, 9 boredthrough the flange-like bent portions 4, 4 of the pair of metal members2 and 2.

The above described tab projections 7, 7 on the surface of the portion 3are engaged with tab receiving holes l2, 12 extending through a fixingportion 11 of a fixing member or bracket 10, whereby the fixing member10 is attached to the metal member 2. The bracket is of boxlikeconstruction having parallel walls and is preferably in the form of ashort length of tubing of rectangular cross section.

In the case where the fixing member 10 is used for a hanger supportingmember 13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, bent ends 14, 14 of the hangersupporting member 13 are engaged with holes in the sides of the fixingmember 10 so that the hanger supporting member 13 can be swung aroundthe bent ends 14, 14 in a vertical direction. The member 13 is ofhairpin shape being distinguished by spaced, generally parallelresilient arms. On the article supporting member 13 of this example, aplurality of hanger supporting pieces 15, 15 are provided, while on thearticle supporting member 13 of the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, asupporting plate 16 adapted to support books or the like is provided. Ineither of the examples, a horizontal bar 17 is provided through thefixing portion 11 of the fixing member 10, providing fixed supportingstops so that the article sup porting member 13 is thereby held to itsworking horizontally extending position. When the article supportingdevice is not used, the article supporting member 13 is set back to itsvertical position as shown in FIG. 2. As clearly seen in FIG. 2, furtherdetent projections 18, 18 are provided on the fixing portion 11 of thefixing member at suitable positions above the holes engaging with thebent ends, 14, 14 of the article supporting member 13, whereby when thearticle supporting member 13 is urged upward, both legs of the member 13are forced outwardly by means of the projections l8, l8 and held to thevertically elected state resting on the projections l8, 18.

As described above, the metal members 2, 2 can be fixed to any of foursurfaces of the square pillar 1, and the height of the fixed positionmay also be adjusted as desired by means of the screws 8, 8. For thisreason, the article supporting device according to the present inventioncan support coat hangers, books, or the like in a suitable manner in theroom, and when it is not used, the supporting member 13 can be swungback to its inactive position in one action by simply pressing thesupporting member 13 upwardly.

Furthermore, the metal members 2, 2 and fixing member 10 can be usedcommonly for the above described examples of the application, that is,for supporting coat hangers or books and the like, whereby the cost ofthe supporting device can be substantially decreased. The abovedescribed protecting portion 6 having a width broader than the length ofthe screws 8, 8, allows to protect coats or else from being caught bythe screws 8, 8 and damaged.

While the features of construction are more easily understood byconsidering the device as an improved coatrack, it will be apparent thatit can be used for hanging or supporting any object within anappropriate weight limit. Boxlike" as used herein refers to the factthat the bracket has parallel walls for mounting the legs of the hanger.Also while the term metal" has been used, it will be apparent thatstrong plastic materials might be substituted without departing from theinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An article supporting device comprising a square pillar supported ina vertical position, a pair of identically shaped metal members fixed onsaid square pillar in a symmetrical manner on two faces of the squarepillar at a desired height, each of the metal members having a portionengaging with the adjacent surface of the pillar, flange-like bentportions provided at both sides of said pillar-engaging portion, and aprotecting bent portion contiguous to one of the flange-like bentportions, fastening means extending through said flangelike bent portionsecuring said metal members together in clamped relation upon saidpillar, said pillar engaging portion of the metal member further havingoutwardly projected portions and extending essentially normal thereto,said protecting bent portions overlying exposed ends of the fasteningmeans, at least one fix'ing member having holes to be engaged with saidoutwardly projected portions of he metal members thereby to fix thefixing member to the outward surface of the pillar-engaging portion ofthe metal member, and an article supporting member pivotally hinged tothe fixing member so that the article supporting member can be held ineither of the horizontally extended working position or in the upwardlyset back non-working position.

2. An article supporting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidarticle supporting member is further provided with a plurality of hangersupporting pieces.

3. An article supporting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidarticle supporting member is further provided with an article supportingplate.

4. An article supporting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidprotecting bent portion has a width sufficiently broader than the lengthof the screws.

1. An article supporting device comprising a square pillar supported ina vertical position, a pair of identically shaped metal members fixed onsaid square pillar in a symmetrical manner on two faces of the squarepillar at a desired height, each of the metal members having a portionengaging with the adjacent surface of the pillar, flange-like bentportions provided at both sides of said pillar-engaging portion, and aprotecting bent portion contiguous to one of the flange-like bentportions, fastening means extending through said flange-like bentportion securing said metal members together in clamped relation uponsaid pillar, said pillar engaging portion of the metal member furtherhaving outwardly projected portions and extending essentially normalthereto, said protecting bent portions overlying exposed ends of thefastening means, at least one fixing member having holes to be engagedwith said outwardly projected portions of he metal members thereby tofix the fixing member to the outward surface of the pillar-engagingportion of the metal member, and an article supporting member pivotallyhinged to the fixing member so that the article supporting member can beheld in either of the horizontally extended working position or in theupwardly set back non-working position.
 2. An article supporting deviceas set forth in claim 1 wherein said article supporting member isfurther provided with a plurality of hanger supporting pieces.
 3. Anarticle supporting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said articlesupporting member is further provided with an article supporting plate.4. An article supporting device as set forth In claim 1 wherein saidprotecting bent portion has a width sufficiently broader than the lengthof the screws.